Training device for balance, agility and proprioception exercises

ABSTRACT

A training device for balance, agility and proprioception exercises includes a base having a top surface, bottom surface, and a flexible member affixed to the base top surface. The flexible member is inflatable to a pressure for supporting a person and comprises a first bladder surrounding a second bladder, the relative diameter of the second bladder smaller than the first bladder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/507,981 to the inventor, filed Jul. 14, 2011, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Example embodiments in general relate to a training device for balance, agility, and proprioception exercises.

2. Related Art

In the fitness community, it seems that everywhere one travels these days, people are talking about core stabilization or stability training. While fitness professionals and consumers are captivated by the “core” craze, a main focus of this type of training is actually proprioception. Proprioception is the body's ability to transmit a sense of position, analyze that information and react (consciously or unconsciously) to the stimulation with the proper movement. In other words, it is the ability to know where a body part is without having to look.

Proprioception includes balance, coordination, and agility because the body's proprioceptors control all these factors. Proprioceptors consist of both sensory and motor nerves that send and receive impulses to and from the central nervous system from stimuli within the skin, muscles, joints and tendons. These impulses transmit vital information, such as the amount of tension in a given muscle and the relative position of a body part during a given movement.

By improving their proprioception, individuals gain balance skills necessary to maintain stability; hone their agility to quickly change direction; and fine-tune coordination skills to perform physical activities accurately and consistently. Proprioception exercises reduce the risk of injury by teaching the body to react appropriately to sudden changes in the environment. A good sense of proprioception is vital for many fitness activities.

Training devices for improving balance, stability and proprioception through exercise therewith have been developed for fitness over many years. More equipment designed to improve proprioception is on the market today than ever before. Examples include rocker boards, wobble boards, foam rollers, stability balls (core fitness or “Swiss” balls) in 55 cm, 65 cm and 75 cm diameters, BOSU® Balance Trainers (half-balls), core stability disks, and foam balance pads, to name a few.

SUMMARY

An example embodiment is directed to a training device for balance, agility and proprioception exercises. The device includes a base having a top surface, bottom surface, and a flexible member affixed to the base top surface. The flexible member is inflatable to a pressure for supporting a person and comprises a first bladder surrounding a second bladder, the relative diameter of the second bladder smaller than the first bladder.

In another example embodiment, the training device for balance, agility and proprioception exercises includes a base having a top surface and bottom surface, a ring-shaped bladder affixed to the top surface of the base, and a dome-shaped bladder affixed to the top surface within the ring-shaped bladder, the bladders inflatable to a pressure for supporting a person.

In another example embodiment, the training device for balance, agility and proprioception exercises includes a base having a top surface and bottom surface, the base having a substantially octagonal border, a first bladder affixed to the top surface of the base, and a second bladder affixed to the top surface within a footprint of the first bladder, the bladders inflatable to a pressure for supporting a person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawing, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a training device for balance, agility, and proprioception exercises according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the training device configured with stackable risers.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of two training devices having a connector attached there between

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the training device with handles configured in another example embodiment.

FIG. 7 a rear plan view of the device in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the training device of FIG. 1 with exercise routine indicia thereon.

FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating user exercise with the training device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a training device for balance, agility and proprioception exercises according to an example embodiment; FIG. 2 a rear plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 a side elevational view thereof. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the training device (hereafter “device 100”) includes a base 105 with a substantially octagonal-shaped border which acts as a support for a flexible member. Although base 105 is shown with an octagonal border or outline, other outlines may be contemplated (elliptical, circular, polygonal, etc.). Base 105 can be made of hard plastic, metal, wood, or other materials.

The flexible member is configured to be inflatable to a pressure for supporting a person and is embodied as a dual-bladder system. The dual-bladder system comprises a wider-diameter, ring-shaped, elastomeric lower bladder 110, which is shown secured to the top surface of base 105, and a smaller diameter, domed or circular-shaped, elastomeric upper (or central) bladder 115 positioned within the lower bladder 110 and also secured to the top surface of base 105. Collectively, bladders 110 and 115 comprise the flexible member, but are independent from one another, within the smaller bladder 115 separately inflatable and movable, but constrained, within the footprint of the larger diameter bladder 110 on the top surface of base 105.

The undersides or edges of bladders 110 and 115 may be attached with an airtight seal to base 105 by various sealing means such as an adhesive, clamping fasteners, etc. Each of bladders 110 and 115 may be composed of natural and/or synthetic rubbers, plastics, etc., anti-burst PVC being an example material. In some examples, a surface of each bladder 110/115 may be applied with a non-skid material or laminate. When inflated and not under load, the bladders 110/115 in one example (from a side view elevation) collectively take on the shape, appearance or outline of a flying saucer on base 105.

The base 105 includes a pair of valves (not shown) formed into a side thereof. The valves are connected to passages serving as air inflation ports to each of the respective bladders 110/115, so that each bladder's internal pressure may be separately adjusted. Thus, each bladder 110/115 can be inflated as desired, creating various and different stability/agility options. For example, each of the two valves installed in base 105 may be embodied as a rubber bushing covered on its inside with a flap that acts as a check valve , which is mounted in a hole formed in the base that is connected to a tubular passage through the interior of base 105 and serving as an inflation port into its respective bladder 110/115. Valves of this type are used to inflate basketballs, footballs, etc.

Alternatively, these valves could be installed directly in the respective bladders 110/115 instead of on base 105. Further, if the device 100 need only be inflated to a relatively low pressure, a tube with stopper may be employed for a user to blow into the respective portal/tube at base 105 or alternatively blow into each bladder 110/115 to inflate, as is done with inflatable balls, etc. Various other types of valves can be used in different embodiments, depending upon the desired pressure, pumping method, etc.

Base 105 includes one or more handles. Outer handles 120 may be coated with a neoprene-style laminate to facilitate grasping, for example. Additional cutouts in the base bottom surface 107 form interior handles 122, 123 and 124, which may also be applied with a neoprene-type coating to facilitate grasping. The built-in interior handles 122 through 124 permit adjusting grip width to add variation in exercises as well as to accommodate users with wider/narrower shoulder widths. Additionally as shown in FIG. 3, the base 105 may include an outer circumferential lip 109 that facilitates grasping the device 100 for transport or repositioning thereof.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the training device of FIG. 1 with exercise routine indicia thereon (handles 120 omitted for clarity), and FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating user exercise with the training device. In the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, a plurality of self-guided exercise illustrations 160 may be applied on the upper surface of lower bladder 110 for the user 175. Each illustration may include a visual representation of the exercise, the name of the exercise, and a suggestion for number of sets and reps per set, for example. Accordingly, potential uses for device 100 include balance, agility, and proprioception training to improve sports and/or fitness performance. Device 100 may be used as a tool in rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Many resistance exercises can be performed on either side of the device 100. As for intensity of exercise and challenge, and as air pressure is added to upper/central bladder 115, the shape of the upper bladder 115 transforms from a dome shape into more of the shape of a smaller surface area half-ball (as compared to the surface area of a BOSU® half-ball for example), constrained only be the circular boundary of the lower ring-shaped bladder 110. Thus, the proprioception training intensifies as the bladder 115 curvature becomes more hemispherically pronounced (i.e., more bulbous), distending upward from lower bladder 110 much more than with lower air pressure therein. The smaller surface area of the half-ball shape of bladder 115 at higher internal air pressure enhances the intensity and difficulty level for balance and agility exercises such as shown in the illustrations of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the training device configured with stackable risers. The device 100 may be used with one or more stackable risers 200 to increase the intensity of a given stability, agility and/or proprioception exercise. The risers 200 may be dimensioned to the diameter of the base 105 for flush fit thereto. The risers 200 help increase resistance for various exercises. The risers 200 assist with range of motion in different exercises. Using the training device 100 on risers 200 makes it completely customizable/adjustable for the user. Using the training device 100 with risers 200 allows for the user to determine the height they may want if used in an aerobic step class, for example.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of two training devices having a connector attached there between. To provide different options with two devices 100, a connector 150 may attach two devices 100 in mirror image relation, as shown in FIG. 5. Using a connector 150 with the training device 100 may allow the user to have a more unstable surface to train on. There are several exercises that can be performed when two devices 100 are connected.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a training device with handles configured in another example embodiment; and FIG. 7 a rear plan view of the device in FIG. 6. The device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar to the previous embodiment; only the differences are described in detail. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the outer handles are shown as semi-circular straps 126, which may be of material or plastic construction, for example.

The example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. For example, and although not shown, the base 105 in another embodiment could be configured with pressure gauges that tracking the interior air pressure in each of bladders 110 and 115, with a mechanical and/or electrical readout to the user. Such variations are not to be regarded as departure from the example embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included in the following claims. 

1. A training device for balance, agility and proprioception exercises, comprising: a base having a top surface and bottom surface, a flexible member affixed to the base top surface, the flexible member inflatable to a pressure for supporting a person and comprising a first bladder surrounding a second bladder, the relative diameter of the second bladder smaller than the first bladder.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second bladders are distinct and separate from one another and affixed to the base top surface, each separately inflatable.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface includes a plurality of cutouts beneath the bladders in spaced relation thereto serving as handles for accommodating different shoulder widths.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the base has a substantially octagonal border.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the base includes one or more cutouts formed therein outside edges of the first bladder serving as handles through the top surface thereof.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the base includes one or more straps attached thereto outside edges of the first bladder to serve as handles.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the base includes an outer circumferential lip to facilitate grasping the device for transport or repositioning thereof.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a connector affixed to the bottom surface of the device for attaching another training device in mirror image arrangement thereto.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising: one or more stackable risers dimensioned to fit flush to the bottom surface of the base for varying exercise intensity.
 10. A training device for balance, agility and proprioception exercises, comprising: a base having a top surface and bottom surface, a ring-shaped bladder affixed to the top surface of the base, and a dome-shaped bladder affixed to the top surface within the ring-shaped bladder, the bladders inflatable to a pressure for supporting a person.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein each of the bladders are separately inflatable via the base.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein the bottom surface includes a plurality of cutouts beneath the bladders in spaced relation thereto serving as handles for accommodating different shoulder widths.
 13. The device of claim 10, wherein the base has a substantially octagonal border.
 14. The device of claim 10, wherein the base includes one or more cutouts formed therein outside edges of the ring-shaped bladder serving as handles through the top surface thereof.
 15. The device of claim 10, wherein the relative diameter of the dome-shaped bladder is smaller than the ring-shaped bladder.
 16. A training device for balance, agility and proprioception exercises, comprising: a base having a top surface and bottom surface, the base having a substantially octagonal border, a first bladder affixed to the top surface of the base, and a second bladder affixed to the top surface within a footprint of the first bladder, the bladders inflatable to a pressure for supporting a person.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the first bladder is ring shaped, and the second bladder is domed shaped, but under increasing air pressure the second bladder expands into an enlarged hemispherical shape constrained only by the first bladder so as to enhance the difficulty level of exercise thereon. 